Pelicans top Flamingos at Palm Beach Day Academy’s Field Day

Monday

As the day wore down, about 380 students stood in the heat, patiently waiting to hear who had won: Pelicans or Flamingos?

"Today, I’m very pleased to present this cup," Palm Beach Day Academy Head of School Dr. Edwin Gordon said, "to the Pelicans."

For the first time since 2012, the Pelicans defeated the Flamingos in Palm Beach Day Academy’s 87th annual Walter H. Butler Field Day on Saturday. The Field Day, a longstanding tradition, splits the school’s older students into two groups and pits them against each other in a series of individual and team sports to determine a winner.

As the winner was announced, students in navy blue — the Pelicans — cheered and screamed. Students in yellow — the Flamingos — yelled "no!" while the Pelicans jumped and celebrated and ran across the field, flying a blue Pelicans flag.

On Thursday, students ages 2 to 4 participated in their own, smaller Field Day. But Saturday drew a larger crowd of alumni and parents, and was a day filled with soccer, basketball, running, jumping, football throwing, obstacle courses and relay races.

At the end, a tug-of-war was held to help determine the winner. The Pelicans won by a score of 288-206.